Disintegrator for rock and the like



Oct. 30, 1956 L. F. BONNER 2,768,793

DISINTEGRATOR FOR ROCK AND THE LIKE Filed March 22, 1954 E '1 I T L l 32 l1- z z 40 I FIG. 2.

F16. l. 30 I 4/ 2/-- /9 q 2 /7 25 l2. l7 23 19 I g J I J I 2 fr F16. 22 22 INVENTOR. 323 3 23 3 Louis- E Banner, 4 BY d J [T23 A TTORNK United States P DISINTEGRATOR FOR ROCK AND THE LIKE Louis F. Bonner, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Esso Research and Engineering Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application March 22, 1954, Serial No. 417,880

4 Claims. (Cl. 241-68) The present invention is directed to apparatus for disintegrating rock samples and other specimens taken from the earths strata. In its more specific aspects, the invention is directed to apparatus for crushing rock and the like for releasing hydrocarbons contained in said rock. In its more specific aspects, the invention is directed to apparatus for releasing hydrocarbons from rock for analyzing same The present invention may be briefly described as apparatus for disintegrating rock sample and the like which comprises a vessel having a cover releasably attached to the vessel to close same. The cover is provided with a central passageway and with at least one port fluidly communicating the interior of the chamber with the exterior thereof. Arranged in the central passageway is a slidable elongated member having a first end projecting into the vessel and a second end projecting outside of the vessel. A cross-shaped crushing means provided with a plurality of case-hardened blades is attached to the first end of the elongated member while the second end of the elongated member has a manipulating means attached thereto for imparting rotary and reciprocating motion to the crushing means to crush rock sample and the like placed in the vessel below the crushing means to release hydrocarbons contained in the rock sample.

"The-elongated member may be provided with a shoulder which serves to retain a slidable hammer which is mounted on the elongated member for imparting percussion to the crushing means. I

The cover may be suitably sealed" by means of a packing member, such as an Oring, and attached to the vessel by means of an L-shaped slot cooperating with a pin arranged on the exterior of the vessel.

The elongated member is slidably arranged in the cover plate and is provided with sealing means, such as an G-ring, to prevent loss of hydrocarbon vapor released from the rock sample. v

-While the coverplate may be releasably attached by means of a pin and slot arrangement, it is contemplated that other means, such as square screw threads may also be used.

The invention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing in which Fig. 1 illustrates sectionally one embodiment of the invention provided with a slidable hammer;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation similar to Fig. 1 but rotated 90 to show the pin and slot referred to in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in which identical numerals will be employed to designate identical parts, numeral 11 designates a vessel provided with a cover 12. The cover 12 has a plurality of threaded lateral ports 13 which communicate by vertical ports 14 with the interior 15 of the vessel 11. The ports 13 are suitably connected to conduits 16 containing valves 17, Arranged in a central passageway 18 of the cover 12 is an 2,768,793 Patented Oct. so, 1956 ice elongated member 19 having a first end 20 arranged in the vessel 11 and a second end 21 projecting from the vessel 11. The first end 20 has attached to it a crossshaped crushing means 22 on which are arranged casehardened blades 23. The elongated member is sealed in the passageway 18 by means of an O-ring 24 in a recess 25 in the cover 12. The cover 12 is provided with a bushing 26, a retaining ring 27 and a snap ring 28 both of which serve to hold the bushing 26 in the cover 12.

Arranged on the second end 21 is a collar 29 which is held on the second end 21 by means of a threaded screw 39. Connected to the second end 21 and the collar 29 is a handle member 31 which is provided with a wheel or the like manipulating means 32 which is connected to the member 31 by a threaded screw 33. The handle member 31 and the elongated member 19 are preferably constructed as a continuous member, as shown, turned down to a smaller diameter to form member 19. Also while the collar 29 is shown as being screwed on the upset portion or member 31 of the stem comprised of elements 19 and 31, it may be simply attached thereto by a set screw, such as 30. Arranged on the handle member 31 is a slidable hammer 34 provided with a recess 35 which cooperates and fits over the collar 29.

The cover 12 is held on the vessel 11 by means of pins 35 and L-slots 36 which are shown more clearly in Fig. 2. The cover plate 12 is sealed to the vessel 11 by means of a sealing member or O-ring 37 arranged in a recess 38 in vessel.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that Fig. 2 is identical to Fig. l with the exception of the handle member. In the embodiment of Fig. 2 a handle member 40 is threadably attached by threads 41 to the collar 29. Attached to the upper end of the handle member 40 is a wheel or the like member 42 for manipulating the elongated member 19 and imparting rotary and reciprocating motion thereto. Like handle member 31 of Fig. I, handle member 40 of Fig. 2 forms a stern comprised of down to form elongated member 19.

The apparatus of the present invention operates in the following manner:

The .cover plate 12 and the elongated member '19 with the crushing means 22 are removed from the vessel 11 by releasing the cover plate by rotating the cover plate12 to place the pins 35 in the slots 36. A rock sample, such as a core from the bottom or side of a well drilled in the earth, is then placed in the vessel 11 below the crushing means 22. The cover plate 12 is then ,attached to the vessel 11 by cooperating the slot 36 with the pins 35 to form a sealed chamber 15. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the hammer member 34 may be reciprocated on the handle member 31 causing the hammer 34 to strike the collar 29 which causes the casehardened blades 23 to crush the rock specimen in the chamber 15. At the same time, a rotary motion may be imparted to the wheel member 32.

With respect to Fig. 2 the rock sample is placed in the chamber 15 below the crushing means 22 and after the cover plate has been fastened securely the wheel member 42 is rotated and/or reciprocated to impart a rotary and/or reciprocating motion to the elongated member 19 and the crushing member 22.

Any hydrocarbons contained in the rock samples are released into the chamber 15 and may be drawn off through one of the conduits 16 and one of the valves 17. Specifically, hydrocarbon vapors may be removed from the apparatus by inserting a hypodermic needle attached to a suitable barrel containing a piston and drawing a sample of the released hydrocarbon vapors into the barrel for use in analyzing the hydrocarbons, such as by means of a hot wire apparatus. The hypodermic needle may be inserted in one of the conduits 16 and the valves 17 opened.

The disintegrator of the present invention has been used successfully in crushing rock and core samples for analysis of hydrocarbon vapors released therefrom. The rock disintegrator of the present invention crushes and grinds the rock sample and causes release of any hydrocarbons contained therein for analysis.

While it is understood that the presentinvention will have most utility in releasing hydrocarbon vapors for analysis, it also has utility in releasing either vapors or liquid hydrocarbons for visual inspection as may be de= sired or for crushing rock samples for the purpose of examining them for their content of fosiliferous material.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for disintegrating a rock sample and the like which comprises, a vessel, a cover releasably and sealingly attached to said vessel to close same, said cover being provided with a central passageway, a slidable and rotatable elongated member arranged in said passageway with a first end in said vessel and a second end outside said vessel, sealing means in a recess in said cover opening into said passageway for sealing said elongated member in said passageway, a crushing means provided with at least one case-hardened blade attached to said first end, manipulating means attached to the second end of said elongated member for imparting rotary and reciprocating motion to said crushing means to crush a rock sample placed in said vessel below said crushing means to release hydrocarbons contained in said rock sample. and valve controlled means in said cover laterally spaced from said central passageway for withdrawing at least a portion of said released hydrocarbons, while maintaining said elongated member and crushing means in said vessel.

2. Apparatus for disintegrating a rock sample and the like which comprises, a vessel, a cover releasably and sealingly attached to said vessel to close same, said cover being provided with a central passageway, a slidable elongated member arranged in said passageway for reciprocating and rotational movement with a first end in said vessel and a second end outside said vessel, sealing means in a recess in said cover opening into said passageway for sealing said elongated member in said passageway, a cross-shaped crushing means provided with casehardened blades attached to said first end, manipulating means attached to the second end of said elongated member for imparting rotary and reciprocating motion to said crushing means to crush a rock sample placed in said vessel below said crushing means to release hydrocarbons contained in said rock sample, and valve controlled means in said cover laterally spaced from said central 4 A passageway for withdrawing at least a portion of said released hydrocarbons, while maintaining said elongated member and crushing means in said vessel.

3. Apparatus for disintegrating a rock sample and the like which comprises, a vessel, a cover releasably and sealingly attached to said vessel to close same, said cover being provided with a central passageway, a slidable and rotatable elongated member arranged in said passageway with a first end in said vessel and a second end outside said vessel, sealing means in a recess in said cover opening into said passageway for sealing said elongated member in said passageway, a slidable hammer member mounted on the second end of said elongated member, a cross-shaped crushing means provided with a plurality of case-hardened blades attached to said first end, manipulating means attached to the second end of said elongated member for imparting rotary and reciprocating motion to said crushing means to crush a rock sample placed in said vessel below said crushing means to release hydrocarbons contained in said rock sample, and.

valve controlled means in said cover laterally spaced from said central passageway for withdrawing at least a portion of said released hydrocarbons, while maintaining said elongated member and crushing means in said vessel.

4. Apparatus for disintegrating a rock sample and the like which comprises, a vessel, a cover releasably and sealingly attached to said vessel to close same, said cover being provided with a central passageway, a slidable and rotatable elongated member arranged in said passageway with a first end in said vessel and a second end outside said vessel, sealing means in a recess in said cover open ing into said passageway for sealing said elongated member in said passageway, a cross-shaped crushing means provided with a plurality of case-hardened blades attached to said first end, and manipulating means attached to the second end of said elongated member for imparting rotary and reciprocating motion to said crushing means to crush a rock sample placed in said vessel below said crushing means to release hydrocarbons contained in said rock sample, said cover being provided with at least one lateral port fluidly communicating with the interior of said vessel and provided with a valved conduit for withdrawing at least a portion of said released hydrocarbons, while maintaining said elongated member and crushing means in said vessel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 489,647 Coe Jan. 10, 1893 579,325 Kingsley Mar. 23, 1897 1,212,915 Daugherty Jan. 16, 1917 2,056,097 Fegley et al. Sept. 29, 1936 2,161,998 Chott June 13, 1939 2,192,525 Rosaire et a1. Mar. 5, 1940 2,248,108 Mihalko July 8, 1941 2,325,057 Hoover et a1. July 27, 1943 

